DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY MARCH 7
1.50 SANDOWN
CINQUENTA represents the same team that landed this prize last season with Laurens Bay and Jamie Snowden’s inmate has the right attributes to keep the trophy on the mantlepiece of the Lambourn handler.
The six-year-old didn’t manage to win a bumper in three starts but when you consider he was in races won by the likes of Sober Glory, No Drama This End and Gaelic Pride, all three placed efforts deserve plenty of praise.
Sent over hurdles this season after a wind op, the son of Cokoriko shaped with a huge amount of encouragement on his first two starts and at Market Rasen last time out he gained his due rewards with a convincing success.
In a well-run event at the Lincolnshire venue, the scopey chasing type travelled supremely well throughout and once given the office two out, he readily drew clear to post a smart speed figure.
Given how strong he was at the finish 34 days ago, today’s stiff examination on testing ground should suit and he rates a decent proposition at the morning odds.
CINQUENTA – ½ point each-way@10-1 (five places)
2.27 SANDOWN
As the song says, RUBBER BALL came bouncing back to his very best form at Newbury last time out and hailing from a yard who’s last seven runners have yielded five winners, Neil King’s inmate is a well worth an interest to see whether he can maintain those terrific stats for his Wroughton handler.
For reasons only explained by those closest to the six-year-old, he completely lost his way in the earlier part of the season but despite being pulled up on his previous outing – admittedly over three miles on heavy ground – and being seemingly out of form, the market strongly hinted he was about to strike at the Berkshire venue a week ago.
In-keeping with the confidence in his direction, the son of Yorgunnabelucky duly delivered the goods and with the speed figure pointing towards his performance being right up there with the best of his career, confidence is high he can handle this step back up in grade.
RUBBER BALL – 1-point each-way@13-2 (six places)
4.18 GOWRAN
A race with a multitude of options but none arrive here in better shape than MOUNT FRISCO and John Ryan’s gelding rates a better choice to complete the hat trick than his morning odds imply.
His victory at the Kerry venue was no mandatory one according to the data, with the son of Kalanisi not only running the 2m3f journey 20 seconds quicker than Red Mills winner, Impaire Et Passe, the final circuit was also seven seconds to the good over a horse rated 55lb superior on the ratings.
Found a golden opportunity to follow up back over hurdles at Clonmel 12 days later, the seven-year-old made no mistake to the tune of 20 lengths and given that smooth success was achieved over two miles, a drop back to the minimum trip on his return to fences should prove no problem.
MOUNT FRISCO – 1-point each-way@13-2 (four places)
5.35 WOLVERHAMPTON
TOWERLANDS, by some way brings the best recent form to the party, and Tony Carroll’s should easily be good enough to record career victory number five.
Trying 1m4f for the first time at Lingfield two weeks ago unequivocally proved that he stayed the trip well, finishing strongly to finish a never-nearer third behind the smart Paradias and his effort was backed up by a very good speed figure.
Prior to that career high according to the data, he won with more in hand than the bare result suggested over today’s C&D, and providing the gallop isn’t a complete joke, all roads lead to the son of Earthlight making hay dropping down to Class 4 level.
TOWERLANDS – 1-point win@5-2